Cleaning codes & Specs for textiles

What it is: Alta  is a textile technology developed by Applied Textiles that offers  permanent protection against stains and spills, designed for various  environments like healthcare, hospitality, and residential settings. 

• How it works: Alta  creates a molecular bond with the fabric fibers, providing a durable,  water and oil-based stain repellent that lasts as long as the fabric  itself. 
• Benefits: 
• Easy Cleaning: Fabrics treated with Alta are exceptionally easy to clean, requiring minimal effort to remove stains and spills. 
• Permanent Protection: Unlike temporary spray-on protectors, Alta's protection is permanent and doesn't degrade over time. 
• No Impact on Fabric Feel: Alta doesn't change the fabric's softness, breathability, or appearance. 
• Wide Applicability: Alta  can be applied to various fabrics and is designed to address the  specific challenges of different environments, such as food and beverage  areas, healthcare, and residential settings. 
• Cleaning Instructions: 

1. Liquid Spills: Blot spills quickly and gently with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. 

• Residual Spots: Flush with warm water and blot with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. 
• Stubborn Stains: Mix a few drops of mild detergent with water, apply to the stain, wait a few seconds, and blot with a clean, dry cloth. 
• Environments: Alta is designed to perform in various environments, including: 
• Healthcare: Alta Healthcare is designed for fabrics with existing bleach cleanability. 
• Senior Living: Alta Senior Living is designed for fabrics with high-use areas. 
• Food and Beverage: Alta Food & Beverage is designed for fabrics with frequent food and beverage spills. 
• Residential: Alta Residential is designed for fabrics in homes. 
• Other features: 
• DuraBlock: Applied  Textiles also offers DuraBlock, a liquid barrier that can be used with  Alta to prevent stains from penetrating into the cushion. 
• Antimicrobial: Some Alta collections, like Reflection, also offer antimicrobial protection. 

Abrasion is a critical concept in the textile industry that refers to the process of wear and tear on fabrics due to frictional forces. It plays a crucial role in determining the durability, performance, and lifespan of textile materials. 

Double rubs are a  standardized test used to assess the durability of a fabric by measuring  how many times a fabric can be rubbed back and forth before showing  signs of wear or damage. The double rubs can be found on the specs of each textile. 

A higher double rub count  indicates that the fabric is more resistant to abrasion and will likely  last longer in high-traffic areas or for furniture that will be used  frequently. 

Approximately 3,000 double rubs is equal to one year of use

• Examples of double rub ratings: 
• Low-use: <15,000 double rubs are suitable for accent chairs or furniture that won't see much wear and tear. 
• Residential use: 15,000-20,000 double rubs are considered good for everyday use and are often used for sofas, curtains, and bedding. 
• Heavy-duty/commercial: 30,000+ double rubs are suitable for high-traffic areas like offices, hotels, and restaurants. 
• Extra heavy-duty/commercial: 40,000+ double rubs are suitable for very high-traffic areas like airport terminals, theaters, and stadiums. 

 ***Always spot-test cleaning agents.***

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on application and cleaning.

These cleaning codes are the result of test methods conducted by fabric manufacturers in accordance to the Joint Industry

F-Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Dry clean using

petroleum solvents or fluorocarbon only. Please note caution in

use of water-based or detergent-based solvent cleaners may cause

excessive shrinkage. Water stains may become permanent. It is

recommended to periodically lightly brush or vacuum fabric to

remove dust particle buildup.

F- Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Dry clean using

petroleum solvents or fluorocarbon only, using reduced moisture,

cycle, and/or heat. Please note caution in use of water-based or

detergent-based solvent cleaners may cause excessive shrinkage.

Water stains may become permanent. It is recommended to

periodically lightly brush or vacuum fabric to remove dust

particle buildup.

P- Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Dry clean in

solvents with the exception of trichloroethylene. Please note

caution in use of water-based or detergent-based solvent

cleaners may cause excessive shrinkage. Water stains may

become permanent. It is recommended to periodically lightly

brush or vacuum fabric to remove dust particle buildup.

P- Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Dry clean in

solvents with the exception of trichloroethylene. Reduce moisture,

cycle, and/or heat. Please note caution in use of water-based or

detergent-based solvent cleaners may cause excessive shrinkage.

Water stains may become permanent with solvent cleaning

products. It is recommended to periodically lightly brush or

vacuum fabric to remove dust particle buildup.

S- Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Clean with pure

solvents that are petroleum distillate-based products. Please note

caution in use of water-based or detergent-based solvent cleaners

may cause excessive shrinkage. Water stains may become

permanent. It is recommended to periodically lightly brush or

vacuum fabric to remove dust particle buildup.

SW- Professional dry cleaning is recommended.

Clean with water-based cleaning agents, foam or pure solvents

that are petroleum distillate-based products. It is recommended

to periodically lightly brush or vacuum fabric to remove dust

particle buildup.

W- Professional dry cleaning is recommended. Clean

with water-based cleaning agents, or water-based foam. Most

household cleaning agents are detrimental to fabric’s color and

life. It is recommended to periodically lightly brush or vacuum

fabric to remove dust particle buildup.

WS- Clean water based stains with water based

cleaning agents. (Do not use solvents on water based stains.)

For oil based stains use a solvent cleaner.

WW- Use water based cleaning agents only. Do not use

solvents. To remove a stain, gently blot or hand wash, being

careful not to over wet fabric. Please note caution that excessive

brushing or vacuuming may harm fabric finish.

X- Clean by lightly brushing or vacuuming only to remove

dust particle buildup. Please note caution water-based foam or

solvent-based cleaning agents may cause excessive shrinkage

and/or discoloration.

**These cleaning codes do not imply and/or guarantee the clean ability of any fabric or method.